Vientiane, October 2, 2026 (Agencies) – China and Laos have officially inaugurated a joint support and training centre and an aviation academy at Ban Keun Airport in Vientiane Province, marking a significant step in defense cooperation between the two countries and providing a new platform for training Lao military pilots.
According to China’s Ministry of National Defense, the China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center and the China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy formally began operations on September 29. The facilities will be jointly managed by China and Laos and are intended to enhance the training capabilities of the Lao People’s Liberation Army Air Force (LPLAAF).
Chinese defense authorities said the new institutions would help Laos strengthen the education and training of its air force personnel while deepening practical military cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
The launch of the facilities comes as Laos seeks to improve its military aviation training capacity. While details regarding the number of Chinese personnel assigned to the facilities have not been disclosed, both countries have stated that the centres will serve as a key hub for pilot instruction and aviation-related training.
Beijing and Vientiane have not revealed information about aircraft deployments, support equipment, infrastructure arrangements, command structures, or the terms governing access by China’s People’s Liberation Army to Ban Keun Airport.
Defense analysts believe the initiative may help address limitations in the LPLAAF’s existing pilot training system. According to available defense data, the Lao Air Force operates five LE500 basic trainer aircraft supplied by China’s Shijiazhuang Aircraft Industry Corporation since 2013 and four Yak-130 advanced jet trainers delivered from late 2018.
The LPLAAF maintains a training squadron equipped with Yak-130 aircraft, although its operating base has not been publicly identified. The service primarily operates from Vientiane-Wattay International Airport while also utilizing smaller airfields across the country.
The inauguration reflects growing defense ties between China and Laos and adds to broader bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, economic development and military training. Officials from both countries said the new facilities would contribute to improving aviation training standards and strengthening long-term cooperation in the defense sector.